What to do in Great Barrier Reef

Activities, attractions and tours

Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that Great Barrier Reef has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to Great Barrier Reef, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling to Great Barrier Reef with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Places of interest in Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in Great Barrier Reef, and make it a breeze to explore Great Barrier Reef and the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Great Barrier Reef to make sure that you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit to Great Barrier Reef, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights in Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef attractions

Great Barrier Reef has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions in Great Barrier Reef to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Great Barrier Reef.

Looking for things to do in Great Barrier Reef can be time-consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine of Great Barrier Reef or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Great Barrier Reef attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!


Explore thousands of activities with free cancellation and no added fees.

Design your experience with airport transfers, excursions, day tours & more.

Get an insider's look in what to book before you travel.


Top places to visit

1. Cairns Esplanade

The Cairns Esplanade is the tree-lined boardwalk along the foreshore in the city of Cairns. It overlooks the Trinity Inlet and the Coral Sea on one side, and is lined with restaurants and gardens on the other. It has bike paths and walking trails, playgrounds, barbecues, exercise areas and a salt-water lagoon.
Learn more
Cairns Esplanade showing a pool, a luxury hotel or resort and swimming

2. Whitehaven Beach

Subtropical Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island is the most famous beach in Queensland and consistently ranks high among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Stroll along the beach, dive in for a swim and let the beauty of the beach rub off on you.
Learn more
Stroll along this famous beach on Whitsunday Island to experience its dazzling white sands and gently lapping waters in different hues of blue and green.

3. Magnetic Island Ferry Terminal

The Magnetic Island Ferry Terminal is the main entry and exit point for Magnetic Island, Townsville’s enchanting outpost in the Coral Sea. Regular ferries connect the island to the mainland, just 5 miles (8 kilometers) away.
Learn more
Magnetic Island Ferry Terminal showing a ferry as well as a small group of people

4. Cairns Marlin Marina

The Cairns Marlin Marina is where all your Great Barrier Reef adventures start, with tour boats coming and going throughout the day. Enjoy shopping, entertainment and dining along the waterfront promenade.
Learn more
Enjoy views of the harbour and and unwind with al-fresco dining, entertainment and shopping beside the bay.

5. Port of Airlie

Boasting year-round warm weather, subtropical waters, shops, restaurants and accommodations, the Port of Airlie can be seen as a destination in itself, although most visitors come here to take a trip out to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef.
Learn more
Port of Airlie which includes a bay or harbour

6. Palm Cove Beach

Experience the stunning beaches, resorts and scenery where the rainforest hugs the shores of the Great Barrier Reef at Palm Cove Beach. Swim or sunbathe beneath the warm Tropical North Queensland sun. Explore the waters on a kayak or sailboat and take in the views of forested hills rising up behind the beach’s string of swaying palm trees.
Learn more
Located in between the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, this palm tree-lined beach is an idyllic spot to take it easy or begin an adventure.

What to do in Great Barrier Reef


Popular places to visit

Explore areas of Great Barrier Reef

Default Image

Palm Cove

Relax on sandy beaches and swim in turquoise waters at a resort town between the Great Barrier Reef and the rain forests of tropical Far North Queensland.

Palm Cove
Cairns which includes a city

Cairns Central Business District

4.5/5(69 area reviews)

Cairns Central Business District is beloved for its popular shops. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Esplanade Lagoon and Cairns Marlin Marina.

Cairns Central Business District
Trinity Beach showing tropical scenes, a sandy beach and surfing

Trinity Beach

Unwind on this tranquil stretch of golden beach, relax under the shade of swaying palm trees and explore Tropical North Queensland at your leisure.

Trinity Beach
Cairns Esplanade featuring a luxury hotel or resort, swimming and a pool

Cairns North

Pristine beaches and ample dining options are well-reviewed features of Cairns North. Make a stop by top sights like Cairns Esplanade Charles Street Parkland while you're exploring the area.

Cairns North
Clifton Beach which includes mountains, a luxury hotel or resort and golf

Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach is known for its pristine beaches, and you can make a stop by Clifton Beach and Palm Cove Beach while in the area.

Clifton Beach
The Strand which includes a sunset, hiking or walking and a garden

The Strand

Go for a swim, enjoy a meal with a view, take a Jet Ski tour or just stroll beneath the palm trees on Townsville’s scenic waterfront.

The Strand

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.